It’s time to step up.

From a previous article, The Essence of Authentic Leadership, we’ve identified the 4 Key Elements in building authentic leadership within your team.

Authentic leadership theory stems from a combination of a number of leadership theories relating to charismatic, servant, spiritual, ethical, and transformational leadership. Though some attributes overlap among these theories, studies suggest that servant and transformational leadership theories are closely associated with authentic leadership theory.

As servant leadership focuses mainly on a leader’s capacity to listen to their team members, it encompasses the humanistic qualities of what an authentic leader must be. It also emphasizes the morality and motivation in satisfying the needs of others before oneself.

While transformational leadership, being a leading contributor to authentic leadership theory, enumerates the key elements that mirror authentic leaders.

The elements almost reflect Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs and its purpose in driving an individual to reach their full potential. The key components also include – increasing awareness, encouraging the followers to place the needs of the organization above themself, and attending to the needs and aspirations of its people.

The path to being an authentic leader takes a lot of self-reflection as it’s rooted in one’s values, beliefs, morals, and goals.

9 ways for you to develop authentic leadership in your company

1. Practice Self-awareness

What are your strengths and limitations?

Job applicants have often posed this query as they hunt for new positions. However, as a leader, when was the last time you tried to answer this question yourself?

The most valuable asset that you have is yourself. Therefore, invest in yourself first before investing in others through regular self-awareness practices.

Though sometimes, it’s easier to assess others’ weaknesses and strengths, as leaders, examining our own strengths and limitations is crucial since it impacts how we execute as authentic leaders.

Try to invest time in yourself, self-awareness is key to being authentic. This process of self-discovery can be achieved initially through your introspection and by communicating with the people around you.

Explore yourself through personality assessments, aptitude tests on strengths and weaknesses, or leadership skills analyses. Simply asking questions of others around you can give you an answer.

2. Reexamine your Values

Do you still live by your values?

This fast-paced world we live in has helped mold you into the leader you are today. It can feel you are forever caught running after deadlines, satisfying client requests, managing staff, and putting out internal fires.

During these times, try and pause for a bit. Ask yourself, “Why the big rush?”

Reexamine your roots – look back on the values and principles which you uphold. As a leader, do you still operate by these values?

It’s a great idea to share these values with your team members. These principles can give you your target direction at times when you are tested by pressure and keep you on track.

Start walking the talk. Allow your values to radiate among your team members to help gain their respect and loyalty.

3. Discern your Aspirations and Motivations

What’s your passion?

It’s typical for us as humans to be driven by extrinsic desires or outside forces such as big houses, fancy cars, or wealth in general. Intrinsic motivation on the other hand is the desire that comes from within, such as participating in a competition or the feeling of achievement when a task is complete – this tends to be more powerful and results in increased fulfillment.

Discerning your motivations and aspirations takes honesty and readiness as you strike a balance between them.

4. Look at the Big Picture

Where are you heading?

Authentic leaders create long-term goals as something to inspire their team, something to strive towards. They keep their team’s focus intact and accept the challenges that come their way, knowing that they will grow through the experiences and reap the results after.

5. Demonstrate Consistency

How do you exhibit consistency?

Consistency in all life aspects is relevant to being authentic and projects reliability and trust to a team. Authentic leaders apply a similar set of values across all areas of life.

Apart from consistency in values, the tremendous challenge among leaders today is striking a balance among uniformity in career, family, and personal life.

6. Cultivate your Team

How do you develop your team?

An authentic leader relies on his or her team as they understand that they cannot achieve results without them.

Your team helps you to stay grounded and focused on your goals. With proper feedback from various perspectives, any of the team’s mistakes are corrected along the way, leading to more informed and competent decisions and actions.

Related Article: How these 7 Remarkable Leadership Skills Grow Your Business

7. Exude Transparency

In what aspects are you transparent?

Trust begets trust. Followers of authentic leaders openly share their insights and struggles as they encounter them.

Also, authentic leaders do not function well in a workplace tainted with secrecy and/or hypocrisy. Instead, they create a culture of collaboration and mutual respect, eliminating perception bias and encouragement for each member to speak up.

8. Motivate and Empower your Employees

How do you drive your team?

Inspiring your team takes you a step closer to achieving your objective. Employees that are motivated understand their contributions to the greater goal.

An authentic leader can empower the team, as they step up and take on challenges, treating them as opportunities. They are aligned with the values, mission, and goals of the organization. Empowered team members contribute to a positive work culture through the trust and loyalty that they exhibit.

9. Fuel up with your constants

Who are your constants?

Authentic leaders have a support group, known as their constants, that reminds them of their values, goals, and purpose.

These constants sometimes also become a source of motivation to pursue higher-order goals and achieve fulfillment. They may be your family, colleagues, mentors, friends, or sparring partners that keep you focused on your aspirations.

It is essential for leaders to regularly practice self-evaluation and strive for authentic leadership. Studies support that; indeed, leaders can be made by developing them. An authentic leadership, once practiced in the organization may bring effective advancement and positive workplace transformations.

References:

Braden, Michelle. (2018, March 13). Seven Ways to Develop Your Authentic Leadership Style. Forbes Coaches Council. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbescoachescouncil/2018/03/13/seven-ways-to-develop-your-authentic-leadership-style/?sh=377d603d69e6

Indeed. (2021, July 16). What Is Authentic Leadership? (Definition and Characteristics). Retrieved from https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/authentic-leadership

Johnson, S. (2019, September). Authentic Leadership Theory and Practical Applications in Nuclear Medicine. Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology, 47(3). 181-188. https://doi.org/10.2967/jnmt.118.222851

Psychology Today. (n.d.). Motivation. Retrieved on October 12, 2021, from https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/motivation

Not that long ago, good leadership was measured by how effective a person’s management skills were.

If one could perform well and deliver the expected outcomes, objectives were satisfied and boxes were ticked. This continuous job cycle resulted in managers directing their teams on how and what they needed to do.

As times have changed, leadership styles have also evolved. Fortunately, previous “command-and-control” practice has been shifting to a more collaborative and supportive working relationship among leaders and team members.

Leadership coaching is continuously gaining momentum, with a preference for developing leaders as coaches more than mere managers.

In this digital age, there is a vast array of tools that aid in everyday business affairs.
Below are the best leadership coaching tools you can utilize as a business leader.

1. The Wheel of Life

What are the life aspects that are relevant to you?

In these busy and uncertain times, this simple but effective tool allows you to self-reflect on the most significant and impactful dimensions of your life. You would have to identify six to eight areas in your life that you regard as vital to you.

Creating the dimensions can be done in several ways – through the roles you play in life, the areas in your life that matter to you, or a combination of these two. The roles you play may include you as a child, parent, daughter/son, husband/wife, friend, colleague, sports enthusiast, etc.

While an example of the areas that matter to you may be education, career, family, public service, financial freedom, artistic expression, pleasure, etc.

After identifying these dimensions, write them on a wheel and assess each area by rating them (from 0-10, 10 receiving the most attention) based on your current state.

Now, connect these areas by a line and consider whether your life wheel looks balanced.

However, having a balanced wheel, or a balanced life does not mean getting 5s in all aspects since these may change based on the circumstances at a given time.

Think of your ideal level of attention to be given to the dimensions you identified and plot them too on your life wheel.

How can you attain the ideal scenario?

What are the steps you need to take to reach it and have a meaningful, balanced life?

References:

https://positivepsychology.com/coaching-tools-examples-assessments/

https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newHTE_93.htm

2. Visualization

What do you want to achieve?

This technique is primarily practiced by athletes due to the immense power it attracts. By visualizing or forming a picture of something or someone in your mind, you can focus on the more essential aspects of a competition, a project, or an event that is winning.

Eliminating distractions such as anxiety, fear, confusion, or disappointment is a must to increase confidence and achieve your goals.

The initial step is to decide on your goal or what you want.

Then, picture yourself at that scene as clearly and more detailed as you can.

The key is to be more specific to feel it and to savor the moment.

Finally, imagine the succeeding steps you must take for you to arrive at that moment.

References:

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/visualization

https://positivepsychology.com/coaching-tools-examples-assessments/

https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newHTE_81.htm

3. Mood Meter

How are you feeling today?

It is perceived that to be effective in leading, you must be aware of your emotions.

Recognizing feelings such as being surprised, motivated, restful, and fulfilled vs. stressed, worried, discouraged, and bored allows us to understand and regulate the pleasant and the unpleasant emotions.

The circumplex model of effect, which illustrates a four-quadrant dimension of emotions categorized as pleasant or unpleasant and activation or deactivation, helps us assess our feelings and hopefully control the unpleasant ones.

By acknowledging where you are on the mood meter, you can think deeper about what made you feel that way.

This can help you label your feeling and allow you to express them while being mindful of how that expression turns out (positive or negative).

You can either find a strategy to maintain or elevate that pleasant feeling or tone down or diminish an unpleasant feeling.

References:

https://hbr.org/podcast/2020/10/why-learning-to-label-your-feelings-makes-you-a-better-leader

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2367156/

https://www.marcbrackett.com/the-colors-of-our-emotions/

4. GROW Model

What are you willing to do to GROW?

As we know, a leader’s primary function is to create a goal and take steps to achieve them. This leadership coaching tool puts it at a higher level when it comes to goal setting.

It establishes the:

Goals or aspirations

Reality or current obstacles/challenges

Options based on strengths and resources

Way forward considering accountability and what when, by whom, plus the will to execute.

As with any other goal or task, clarity propels the direction to its the desired outcome.

If this change aims to bring a culture change, the reality is not everyone will be pleased.

This is where strengths must be explored while deeply involving its people.

With this tool, leaders, and their members, are empowered to strategize and find opportunities to bring about solutions.

In addition, the willingness to do whatever it takes to achieve the stated goal is also crucial.

The way forward is not a walk in the park, however, with commitment and accountability in place, the probability of reaching success is boosted.

References:

https://positivepsychology.com/grow-coaching-model/

https://www.ijrbsm.org/papers/v4-i9/5.pdf

5. Pareto Principle

What can you achieve more by doing less?

You might have heard of the 80/20 Rule countless times in management, and you may have wondered what its relevance is in your everyday affairs?

The Pareto Principle states that 80% of consequences (outputs) come from 20% of the causes (inputs).

As business leaders, if you can produce 80% benefits from 20% of the work, you should focus on the tasks that will require a high impact from a low input.

Initially, you need to list all problems (based on importance) which you need to resolve.

Then, by the identification of the root cause or why these problems arose.

Next, score each problem based on the importance level you set.

For example, if you seek to improve profits, these problems may be rated by the cost of a product, etc.

Once you have scored the problems, they need to be grouped based on the similarity of their root cause, such as lack of manpower.

Finally, the scores for each group must be added.

The group that garners the highest score must receive the highest priority, while the lowest rating must have a lower priority.

By focusing on the highest-scoring problem with the highest payoff, you are saving your energy and resources.

This can, in turn, facilitate increasing the company’s productivity and profitability.

References:

https://www.investopedia.com/terms/p/paretoprinciple.asp

https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newTED_01.htm

There are numerous studies showcasing the importance of a leader when it comes to measuring the effectiveness of an organisation. That is to say, in the position of a leader, you have an impactful role not only in the successful outcome of the organisation but also in influencing the people you work with. On that account, what are some essential leadership qualities one should have in this position?

Truth be told, leadership comes with numerous challenges and rewards. Although this may seem like a contradiction in terms, being a leader provides the opportunity of having a big influence and playing an important role. On the other hand, one’s involvement as a leader can make the distinction between success and failure.

With that in mind, let’s focus on the top leadership qualities one should have in the position of a leader.

1. Self-motivation

We hear a lot about motivation these days. Of course, it is important to be self-motivated regardless of the position you have in an organisation or firm. Still, when you are a leader, self-motivation is even more important. Leadership comes with many challenges and difficulties, and without self-motivation, you might get stuck at some point. You might also get discouraged in the face of difficulties if you lack the power to motivate yourself.

2. Empathy

We also think that empathy is another important quality any leader should possess. When you have an empathic approach and perception, the other people around you are more likely to collaborate with you and do that with an open mind and a positive attitude. When you have an empathic relationship with the people you work with, you can make a closer connection with them. Empathy means trying to understand the problems your employees go through – you try to put yourself in their position and act proactively afterward.

3. Good Communicator

Getting specific results can be difficult, if not impossible without good communication skills. In fact, accomplishing specific purposes is always challenging, but when the communication between the leader and the employees is deficient, then the likelihood of success is notably diminished. In addition to that, words are more powerful than you might think, as they can motivate people and propel them forward – when used correctly!

4. Accountability

When it comes to leadership qualities, accountability is high on our list. Without a doubt, this quality is paramount, as most leaders expect accountability from their employees, partners, and so on and so forth. If you approach accountability the right way, you can actually promote confidence and inspire your employees in this view.

5. Optimism

Why is it so important to be an optimist as a leader? Your attitude can really make the world of a difference in the outcome of a project. When you have a negative approach, you also have the tendency to communicate with a negative tone, which can have detrimental consequences. On the other hand, positivity and optimism are contagious. Concurrently, when you approach a challenging situation with a positive, optimistic mind, the chance of solving it efficiently is much higher.

6. Passion

When discussing leadership qualities, it’s mandatory to include passion – which is somehow connected with motivation. Simply put, when you’re passionate about something, it becomes much easier to work for that goal. Concurrently, through passion, you are willing to give what it takes to make things work. And this can be very inspiring for your subordinates and co-workers.

7. Integrity

Integrity is another piece of the puzzle that shouldn’t be missing. This is an important leadership quality for a leader in a company, in an organisation, in a team, a sports team – you get the picture. When you showcase integrity and you embrace behaviour that indicates you have specific values and beliefs, you display a positive example that is worth following.

8. Confidence

The effectiveness of leadership is imminently associated with confidence. When you are unsure regarding your decisions or your capabilities as a leader or professional in your domain, then the odds are that your subordinates will doubt you. This will make it difficult for them to respect you and your decisions. That isn’t to say you should be overconfident, as this will communicate the wrong message as well.

9. Humour

Did it ever occur to you that a leader should have a sense of humour? It seems that funny leaders are actually better leaders. Why is that? What is the connection between the two? Basically, humour is a valuable tool that enables you to engage with your co-workers and subordinates on a more personal level, thus building a deeper bond. Humour also diminishes the pressure and stress associated with work – laughing releases oxytocin, which promotes social bonding and increases trust.

10. Loyalty

Usually, when it comes to loyalty, most people attribute this quality to employees. However, they overlook the fact that this is one of the most important leadership qualities one should possess. In essence, loyalty is a two-way street. If you aren’t willing to stay loyal to your workers, how do you expect them to do this for you? It’s as simple as that.

11. Discipline

A disciplined leader is a person that has a high level of self-control, which is crucial when it comes to attaining great success. This applies not only in the business world but also on a personal level. Discipline is also linked with accomplishing inner calm, which is just as important when you are a leader and you have to display a positive example for others.

12. Maturity

Many people mistake maturity for old age – but this is not accurate. That is to say, there are many old people who lack maturity, meaning that age is no guarantee in this respect. There are younger men out there who are more mature and more put-together than their older co-workers. And that’s because they have dealt with difficult situations and they did that successfully, with a positive outcome. And this is usually where maturity gets to shine – when you are faced with challenges and you need to act proactively as fast as possible.

13. Managerial Competence

There are numerous organisations and businesses out there that want to create leaders out of people that are merely competent at what they do. And while this may work in some scenarios, it is not a fail-proof strategy. That’s because managerial competence is one of the most significant leadership qualities, which many times may be overlooked. It is about understanding the goals and processes in a company or organisation and knowing how to act based on these.

14. Charisma

It’s also worth noting that most people are more inclined to follow a leader if they like that person. It’s just the way it works – which is what makes charisma an important trait for a leader. Charisma is also connected with approachability, a friendly and positive attitude, among other things.

15. Humility

Why should a leader be humble? Or better said, how can a leader be humble since we’ve pointed out that a leader should be confident? Isn’t this a contradiction? Not so much since confidence isn’t synonymous with pride. On the other hand, humility is an important trait as it means you are real, and this also makes your connection and relationship with your subordinates real. That is to say, humility means that you are concerned with each member of the team, not only with yourself and with your responsibilities. This makes you more relatable to others.

16. Resilience

A leader’s capabilities will be tested in difficult, challenging times, not only in good times. When things get hard, that is when your capabilities are tested. That is to say, instead of concentrating on the problem and the challenge, you should focus on a solution that will make things better. Essentially, resilience is a key quality that comes with time and experience in leadership.

17. Cooperation

And finally, cooperation is another essential trait that each leader should possess. Even the most capable person cannot accomplish everything on his/her own. You need people to reach your goals you need to depend on your team in order to generate success in an organisation. And you have to acknowledge this as a leader. That is to say, a leader should always be willing to cooperate and showcase his/her interest in cooperating with people.